Thousands of kids in New Mexico are exempt from getting vaccinated under state law.

Thousands of kids in New Mexico are exempt from getting vaccinated under state law.

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Updated: 5:38 PM MST Feb 18, 2015

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WEBVTT PAMPA, ARE STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW SHE ENDED UP THERE. THOUSANDS OF KIDS IN NEW MEXICO ARE EXEMPT FROM GETTING VACCINATED, UNDER STATE LAW. BUT A NEW BILL INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATURE TODAY, IS TRYING TO CHANGE THAT. ACTION 7 NEWS REPORTER AARON HILF HAS MORE ON WHAT IT COULD MEAN, FOR THOSE WITH RELIGIOUS EXEMPTIONS. GETTING VACCINATED IS THE LAW IN THE LAND OF ENCHANTMENT. STUDENT'S THROUGHOUT THE STATE ARE REQUIRED TO BE UP TO DATE ON THEIR SHOTS, UNLESS THEY'RE ELIGIBLE FOR AN EXEMPTION. STATE REPRESENTATIVE DEBBY ARMSTRONG WANTS TO TIGHTEN THOSE RULES. "As with the national news that we've seen that an outbreak in communicable diseases will be problematic if there's not enough of the population immunized." RIGHT NOW, YOU CAN GET AN EXEMPTION FOR MEDICAL OR RELIGIOUS REASONS 3 DIFFERENT WAYS. FIRST BY PROVIDING A LETTER FROM A DOCTOR SAYING THE VACCINE WILL ENDANGER THE CHILD'S LIFE. SECOND, A LETTER FROM A RELIGIOUS OFFICIAL STATING IT GOES AGAINST YOUR BELIEFS. OR THIRD, A LETTER FROM THE PARENT OUTLINING RELIGIOUS RESTRICTIONS. THAT'S THE PART ARMSTRONG WANTS TO GET RID OF. SOT "I'm proposing just to eliminate the one category that's really broad." The state has seen a growing number of exemptions over the years, and Armstrong says that puts kids at risk. "It's not just them that haven't been immunized that might get sick, it's others who also haven't been immunized or like I say, those who are immuno-suppressed." ARMSTRONG ADMITS IT'LL BE A TOUGH BILL TO PASS SINCE CRITICS COULD SAY IT LIMITS PARENT'S AUTHORITY. BUT SHE SAYS SHE'S CONFIDENT. "I think it impacts the health of the community, not just their children." IN SANTA FE, AARON HILF KOAT ACTION 7 NEWS. THE BILL WILL HAVE TO MAKE IT THROUGH COMMITTEE AND BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS, BEFORE BECOMING LAW. A LITTLE MORE THAN 33-HUNDRED NEW MEXICO CHILDREN HAVE EXEMPTIONS.

Bill would tighten vaccination exemption rules

Thousands of kids in New Mexico are exempt from getting vaccinated under state law.